The U.S. military is shoring up its defenses in the Persian Gulf amid Iranian threats to close the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.

Defense officials told the newspaper that the Pentagon has notified Congress of “plans to preposition new mine-detection and clearing equipment and expand surveillance capabilities in and around the strait.”

The push is led by the military's Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces in the Gulf region, the paper reported on its website.